The piano (Beale-Vader patented model) was donated on Thursday 19 December 1907 by Lady Northcote (Alice, wife of the Governor General of Australia) for the Siddeley Street Institute. The article in The Age dating Friday 20 December 1907: "Shortly after noon yesterday the Rey. A. Gurney Goldsmith, chaplain to the Victorian Missions to Seamen, who has just taken up residence at his quarters in the new Seamen's' Institute on the Yarra-bank, which was recently opened by his Excellence the Governor-General, was surprised at the receipt of a case of large dimensions. On opening it he found a grand piano, accompanied by a card, "With Lady Northcote's compliments." The pianoforte is one of Beale's make, and its presentation is another illustration of the determination of the vice-regal representatives in Australia to encourage local manufactures. It will be remembered that on the occasion of the opening of the institute an appeal was made to the public for a pianoforte and a billiard table. Lady Northcote has responded with the former, and it will be most useful in connection with the concerts which are given once a week to the, sailors of vessels coming up tho river. The question now arises as to who will provide the billiard table for the use of "Jack ashore," as one of the inducements for him, to visit the institute instead of' spending his spare time in the public house. "Governor Northcote and his wife had laid the foundation Stones of the first Central Institute on Siddeley street. The piano was used it for entertainments and concerts including accompaniment of silent films in the 1920s. 21st century visiting seafarers whilst on shore at the Mission, still regularly play pieces such as popular tunes and classics. A walnut case, full iron framed Upright Piano . See image details; decorative trims throughout, and identification plate inside. Screw holes indicate missing candle brackets or sconces on the two front panels.Lid Royal letters patent coat of arms; inside workings stamped plaque: " The/ Beale-Vader / Steel-wirest-plank / patented / throughout / the world"piano, royal grand piano, beale, beale-vader, music, entertainment, concerts, lady northcote, siddeley street, seamen's mission, alice northcote nee stephen, reverend alfred gurney goldsmith

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born in 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. He was the youngest of eleven children. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was appointed in 1934 as the Musical Director of the London County Council (the GLC or Greater London Council), where he organized many amazing concerts in most of the 150 parks, in and around the London district. He was also responsible for some of London’s major concerts at Kenwood, the Crystal Palace and Holland Park. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and Conducting and was a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. Frank was awarded an M.B.E. in 1967 and he died in November 1970. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.8 photographs - 4 are in the room of a home with a grand piano, some young people and Frank Wright. 2 are groups of people, including Frank Wright sitting around tables at a dinner. 1 is of a man, Frank Wright standing beside a car, possibly a Morris Minor and feeding two horses over a barbed wire fence. 1 is of a man, Frank Wright standing with a group of men at a function in Kerkrade.Only 1 has an inscription written in pencil on back - Kerkrade Aug 1966frank wright, morris minor, grand piano, feeding horses

Black and white photograph. Male in evening wear standing next to grand piano. Pictures on wall. Mats on wooden floor. Inscriptions: on back - handwritten in pencil 'Anthony Strange at Lansdowne May 31, 1949'. Blue circular stamp : 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'. History of Object: Edith Lunn 5.11.1999 'Anthony Strange at Lansdowne House, home of Albert Bush, Williamson Street'. Previous Acc. No. P669.person, group, portrait

A yellow paper programme with red print. On the front cover are the words, ' Country Tour Direction--J. & N. Tait The Famous Brussels Concert Party Mdlle. Alice Viceroy--Soprano Mons. Albert Goossens From Grand Conservatoire, Brussels. Violinist Mons Arthur Baroen Winner of Gold Medal at Royal Conservatoire, Brussels. Violincello Mons. H. Penn Pianist.' On the inside is the programme with both the First Concert and the Second Concert. On the back of the programme is an advertisement for Allan's pianos. Page Bird Pty. Ltd. Printers, Melbourne. C19151915?program, music, brussels concert party, lydia chancellor, collection, ephemera, programme, program, music, singing, event, entertainment, brussels concert party

Bluthner piano dated 1889 (patent no. 32310). PWD engraved imprint to wood. "The Bluthner grand piano came second-hand to the Chalet in 1920 when it was obtained by lessee, Hilda Samsing. This high quality German piano, which stands out as an item of individual significance, is now one of the oldest furnishings in the Chalet. When it was acquired in 1920, the Chalet already had a Beale brand upright piano which had been at the Chalet from the earliest days." (Pg. 77 Historica. 2011) 'A photograph taken of the Music Room (also known as the Drawing Room) between 1920 and 1924, when Hilda Samsing was lessee is one of the earliest known photographs of the Chalet's lounge areas. Published in the undated promotional booklet, Victoria's Wonderland Mount Buffalo, it shows 'A corner of the music room'... On the right, is the Chalet's second piano, which was purchased second-hand in 1920 from Gardner & Lang in Swanston Street, Melbourne. This impressive grand piano of walnut wood still stands in the Chalets Music Room. It was made in the world-famous factory of Julius Bluthner, in Leipzig, Germany, which has made Bluthner pianos since 1853 for numerous royals, composers, conductors, artists, authors and performers including Brahms, Mahler, Bartok, Debussy, Wagner, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. The present stool is not part of the ensemble." ( Pg. 42. Historica )Listed in Draft Inventory of Significant Collection Items. Appendix A.1. Furnishings, Lounges and Hallways (Pg 163. Historica"Bluthner" grand piano made from walnut wood with accomanying wooden stool.(not matching). Piano features three large turned and carved legs on brass castors. Pedals on piano are solid brass, surrounded by carved and turned wooden pedal stand. Stool seat slants towards piano and two plain stretchers support four curved legs. Has 'PWD' stamped on it. PWD engraved imprint to wood.